Poll

Regional

The Kentucky Public Service Commission has accepted broad-based settlements in two cases establishing new environmental compliance plans and associated environmental surcharges for Kentucky Utilities Co. and Louisville Gas & Electric Co.

The compliance plans are intended to meet the requirements of several U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations affecting coal-burning electric power plants.

State Troopers from the Kentucky State Police Post 5 in Campbellsburg spent a day with children from the counties of Oldham, Henry, Trimble, Carroll, Gallatin, and Owen during Post 5’s annual ‘Shop with a Trooper’ program last week. KSP’s ‘Shop with a Trooper’ program is an initiative providing Troopers an opportunity to impact the lives of children in need during holiday season, while providing children a chance to have positive interaction with State Troopers.

The Kentucky State Police will be conducting traffic safety checkpoints in the counties of Oldham, Trimble, Henry, Owen, Carroll and Gallatin during the period of Jan. 2 - 16, 2012.

The intent of a traffic safety checkpoint is to provide for high visibility public safety service, focusing on vehicular equipment deficiencies, confirming appropriate registration of vehicles and the licensing of drivers. Violations of law or other public safety issues that arise shall be addressed in accordance with Kentucky traffic and regulatory laws.

The Kentucky State Police, Post 5, has started conducting the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic safety campaign for the Christmas and New Year’s Eve holiday period. The increased efforts are designed to combat the potentially increased number of impaired drivers resulting from Christmas and New Year’s festivities. The campaign incorporates high visibility enforcement activities to enhance traffic safety while reducing traffic fatalities.

After a six-month investigation of an alleged puppy mill operated by Terri and Kenneth Smith at 25 Allison Lane in rural Campbellsburg, the couple is now facing 218 counts each of second-degree animal cruelty.

Second-degree animal cruelty is a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a sentence of up to 12 months in prison and $500 fine.

Terri Smith, 51, was arrested Friday morning in Bullitt County by U.S. Marshals. She pleaded not guilty to all 218 charges Monday, Dec. 19, in Henry County District Court. She is being held in the Carroll County Detention Center in Carrollton.

Congressman Geoff Davis, who represents Kentucky’s Fourth District in the U.S. House of Representatives, will not seek re-election, he said Thursday.

“In order to devote more time to my family, I have decided not to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives,” Davis said. “It is an honor to have the trust and confidence of the citizens of Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District.”

Davis was first elected to Congress in 2004, defeating Maysville native and Democrat Nick Clooney in the general election. He was re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

Carroll County Fiscal Court voted Nov. 8 to allow Judge-Executive Harold “Shorty” Tomlinson to sign the lease with the state for the Camp Kysoc property.

Tomlinson said he is working out the final details on addressing issues with two fuel storage tanks on the property. Under the lease, he said it is clear that the state maintains responsibility for those tanks. He noted that that also has been agreed to by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. “The state can’t back away from that one,” he said.